On Wednesday, the Football Writers Association of America announced its All-America Team, and Pitt defensive end Rashad Weaver was included as a first-team defensive line selection.
This marks Weaver's second first-team honor from a major selector after he was also named to the Associated Press All-America first team. and it puts him one step closer to consensus All-America status.
What makes a "consensus All-American"? The NCAA recognizes five major selectors of All-America teams: the Associated Press, the Sporting News, the Football Writers Association of America, the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Foundation. To be a consensus All-American, you must be recognized by three of the five. To be a unanimous All-American, you need to get all five.
So far this year, three All-America teams have been announced: the FWAA, the Associated Press and the Sporting News. Weaver earned first-team recognition from the FWAA and the AP and second-team honors from the Sporting News. Patrick Jones was named to the Sporting News first team. The AFCA will announce its All-America team this week and the Walter Camp All-America team will be announced in early January.
In theory, both Weaver and Jones have a shot at consensus All-America honors, but I'm guessing that won't happen. Jones would need to get on the first team for both the AFCA and Walter Camp and Weaver would have to make it for one of those two; I don't see either selector putting a pair of defensive end teammates on its first team, so my money is on Weaver making it for one of them and earning consensus first-team honors (although both players are deserving).
If Weaver does get one more first-team selection, he will become the 52nd player in Pitt history to be named a unanimous or consensus first-team All-American. The last Panther to do it was Quadree Henderson, who was a consensus selection as a kick returner in 2016.
Here's a fun fact: since 1938, nine players have earned unanimous first-team All-America honors:
Marshall Goldberg
Joe Walton
Mike Ditka
Tony Dorsett
Hugh Green
Mark May
Bill Fralic
Larry Fitzgerald
Aaron Donald
You probably already know what those first eight have in common - and what the ninth name on that list doesn't yet have. I have beat the drum for retiring Aaron Donald's number before, but just to make that case again: he is Pitt's only unanimous first-team All-American in the last 82 years whose number has not been retired.
(EDIT: I confused Joe Walton with Joe Schmidt. Walton's number is not retired, so he and Donald are the only two unanimous first-team All-Americans since 1938 who do not have their numbers retired. But Donald definitely outpaces Walton in hardware.)
Another fun fact about that list: Green and Fralic were named unanimous first-team All-Americans twice; they're the only players in Pitt history to do so.
But I digress.
I think Rashad Weaver has a really good chance of joining the list of Pitt players who have earned consensus first-team All-America honors.
This marks Weaver's second first-team honor from a major selector after he was also named to the Associated Press All-America first team. and it puts him one step closer to consensus All-America status.
What makes a "consensus All-American"? The NCAA recognizes five major selectors of All-America teams: the Associated Press, the Sporting News, the Football Writers Association of America, the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Foundation. To be a consensus All-American, you must be recognized by three of the five. To be a unanimous All-American, you need to get all five.
So far this year, three All-America teams have been announced: the FWAA, the Associated Press and the Sporting News. Weaver earned first-team recognition from the FWAA and the AP and second-team honors from the Sporting News. Patrick Jones was named to the Sporting News first team. The AFCA will announce its All-America team this week and the Walter Camp All-America team will be announced in early January.
In theory, both Weaver and Jones have a shot at consensus All-America honors, but I'm guessing that won't happen. Jones would need to get on the first team for both the AFCA and Walter Camp and Weaver would have to make it for one of those two; I don't see either selector putting a pair of defensive end teammates on its first team, so my money is on Weaver making it for one of them and earning consensus first-team honors (although both players are deserving).
If Weaver does get one more first-team selection, he will become the 52nd player in Pitt history to be named a unanimous or consensus first-team All-American. The last Panther to do it was Quadree Henderson, who was a consensus selection as a kick returner in 2016.
Here's a fun fact: since 1938, nine players have earned unanimous first-team All-America honors:
Marshall Goldberg
Joe Walton
Mike Ditka
Tony Dorsett
Hugh Green
Mark May
Bill Fralic
Larry Fitzgerald
Aaron Donald
You probably already know what those first eight have in common - and what the ninth name on that list doesn't yet have. I have beat the drum for retiring Aaron Donald's number before, but just to make that case again: he is Pitt's only unanimous first-team All-American in the last 82 years whose number has not been retired.
(EDIT: I confused Joe Walton with Joe Schmidt. Walton's number is not retired, so he and Donald are the only two unanimous first-team All-Americans since 1938 who do not have their numbers retired. But Donald definitely outpaces Walton in hardware.)
Another fun fact about that list: Green and Fralic were named unanimous first-team All-Americans twice; they're the only players in Pitt history to do so.
But I digress.
I think Rashad Weaver has a really good chance of joining the list of Pitt players who have earned consensus first-team All-America honors.
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